Korean War veterans (from left) Bill Rudolph, Anthony Samson and Clem Mendoza received medals and a proclamation from South Korea thanking them for their service during a visit to the country in June. Eduardo Contreras • U-T photos

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Korean War veterans (from left) Bill Rudolph, Anthony Samson and Clem Mendoza received medals and a proclamation from South Korea thanking them for their service during a visit to the country in June. Eduardo Contreras • U-T photos

After Korean War veterans Bill Rudolph, Clem Mendoza and Anthony Samson returned to the United States nearly 60 years ago, it almost seemed to them as if their contributions to maintaining democracy in the Far East faded into obscurity.

But there is one place where the government and people remain extraordinarily grateful for their efforts to this day: South Korea.

Last month, at the invitation of the South Korean government, the three longtime San Diegans returned for the first time on a government-sponsored excursion, where they joined other United Nations veterans of the conflict. During their weeklong stay, they were presented with medals, showered with gifts, feted at banquets and given tours of the country they once protected.

“They refer to it here as ‘The Forgotten War,’ but it seems like in Korea they have never forgotten,” said Rudolph, 81. “They went out of their way to accommodate us and make us feel appreciated.”

Rudolph, an El Cajon resident for nearly 50 years, is a retired sailor who fought in Korea in 1950-51. Mendoza, 80, has lived more than 50 years in San Diego, served in the Navy and Marine Corps and fought in Korea in 1951-53. Samson, 78, has lived in San Diego since 1970 and served six months in Korea in 1954, shortly after the armistice was signed. He served in the Army.

The trip was organized by the Korean War Veterans Association and took place June 23-28. It coincided with the 62nd anniversary of the North Korean invasion, which began June 25, 1950.

The United Nations voted to authorize an international military intervention after the invasion, and the United States provided the lion’s share of forces for that effort. The three-year conflict lasted until July 27, 1953, when the armistice was signed to end the fighting.

In all, the South Korean government invited 660 veterans over several weeks to return to the country. The government paid for hotel, food, transportation, tours and half the airfare, Mendoza said.

Rudolph, Mendoza and Samson were part of a 61-person American contingent that was joined on the trip by former U.N. forces from Turkey, Colombia and Ethiopia. Among the gifts was a medal with an Ambassador for Peace Official Proclamation.

“It is a great honor and pleasure to express the everlasting gratitude of the Republic of Korea and our people for the service you and your countrymen have performed in restoring and preserving our freedom and democracy,” the proclamation reads. “We cherish in our hearts the memory of your boundless sacrifices in helping us re-establish our Free Nation.”

The proclamation is signed by a retired general and the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

“It felt odd because, here we are, veterans, all we did is our duty with the U.N., and next thing we know, all these people are bowing to us for doing something that was normal,” Mendoza said. “It was so nice. We just felt grateful that we were even invited.”

One of the best parts of the trip, the San Diego trio said, was seeing the positive result of their efforts. While North Korea is frequently in the news for its totalitarian regime and starving population, South Korea is a functioning democracy with clean streets and a well-fed people.

“They call it a forgotten war, but it’s really a forgotten victory,” Samson said. “It’s great to see what has happened there.”